The Ins And Outs Of T-Shirt Printing.
Screen printing is essentially the act of transferring ink to a desired surface (for example, in t-shirt printing), by using a woven mesh to support an ink-blocking stencil. This is accomplished by hand, using a special-purpose block-mount, or by specially considered machines.
Simply put, screen print t-shirts are produced by placing a stencil, attached to a fine mesh produced from silk, polyester or nylon, across the t-shirt material, then rolling ink across the stencil using a roller or squeegee. The ink is pushed or pumped through the mesh onto the t-shirt, with the stencil blocking out areas that are meant to be ink-free. Ideally, designs favored for printed t-shirts are sharp-edged and high-contrast.
In position of a solid stencil, an impermeable substance is more often than not used to mask areas from ink, this is the preferable method of t-shirt printing in the UK for most small-medium scale printers.
Here are instructions on by what method to screen print t-shirts: firstly, gain your materials – a t-shirt, some inexpensive paintbrushes, a pencil, newspaper, an embroidery hoop, screen printing ink, a fine mesh cloth such as sheer curtain material, old nylons or tulle, and glue that isn’t water soluble. You will additionally need a personal computer and a printer for your design, or a good hand for drawing.
Stretch the mesh material out over the embroidery hoop and secure very tightly. Print out your high-contrast, clean-edged design on paper and trace it (or draw it freehand) in pencil onto your mesh.
Paint glue all over the negative areas (blank areas) of your drawing, being careful not to inadvertently glue the mesh to your work surface. Make certain you cover up all the areas you would not like ink to touch. Allow this to dry, or set it according to your glue’s instructions. You have now created your stencil.
position your t-shirt under the stencil (place newspaper inside the t-shirt to protect the back from ‘bleed through’). Stipple the ink onto the areas of your design not coveredby glue. Make sure that the ink is forced through the mesh onto the t-shirt, but be diligent not to overload it as this may create splotches. Cautiously remove the stencil and allow the ink to dry, or set it according to your ink’sinstructions.
The stencil can be reused to create many more printed t-shirts.
This editorial is written for The Stitch Factory. For all your t-shirt printing and t-shirt printing uk requirements visit us online
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